PERDICCAS

That shall prove best which first I went about, Though some would wrest my words from what I thought The malice of Meleager now bursts out, Like flaming fires that burn themselves to nought. Thus naughty minds that never dream but ill, Do construe every thing t'a crooked sense: What I proposed advance our country still, He would interpret it as and offence. And this unreverent parting hence of his, Hath t'a1l his former wrongs yet added one, By his seditious words incensed ere this The soldiers arc to sack the treasures gone. As still seditiously affecting strife, He but abused the credit of his king. And sent some of his slaves to take my life, Such bitter envy did his stomach sting. He but a dastard is t'a foe that yields, And in no conflict hath his fortune tried: We (if by time not venturing to the fields) Like beasts being sacrificed had simply died. But when without we masters did remain, Lest Babylon had straight been barred from food: I those rebellious squadrons did constrain, Even t'our advantage concord to conclude. Th'agreement that gave me a great relief, Made my competetour his mark to miss: For when I came, though he before was chief: The shadow of my greatness darkened his. I by my means have every great man crowned, That from my greatness great things might proceed: Yet to make my authority renowned, The doing likes me better than the deed. I this division chiefly did procure, To make the court from other great men free: That so my credit might remain more sure, And they by such great gifts engaged to me. For him that hath them thus to honour brought, They must be bound to hold in high account: And I have not advanced them thus for nought, They be the means by which I mind to mount. I'll make their breasts such jealous thoughts im brace, That every one shall seek his mate t'ore-throw: And then I purpose to supply their place, When by such sleights the highest are brought low. This subtle course rests by experienee tried, The strongest else is to confusion gone: I long to learn how Leonatus died, Not that I mind his funerals to bemoan. Thus we that underneath one ensign warrd, Slept in one tent, and all one fortune proved, And with a friendship then that never iarrd, As Pilades and mad Orestes loved. Since wanting now a Lord. that all be Lords, We lo renounce all kind of kindness now: And secret rancour budding in discords, Even every one does th'others ruin vow. Such is the sacred famine of a crown, That it to satisfy before we fail, What stands within our way, all must go down, And bans of blood or friendship nought avail. These glory-rauish'd souls that would be great, Will pretermit no means although unjust: of copartners in the state; there can be no trust. Well, I perceive Antipater does tend, pour, attain that sacred prey: of late augmented now in th'end, Through every danger once may make a way. And Alexander sometime spoke at large, Then while Antipater with Agis strived, That he without the limits of his charge, More Like a king than a Lieutenant lived. Anti onus, and Ptholomie in arms Are ioy'nd in one, our ruin bent to breed: I fear that friendship procreate our harms, Unless their spite prevented be with speed. I'll lodge you now Eumenes in my breast, And let you see the ground of my designs: Since that we both alike must toil or rest, As those whose course one planet now confines. Since at his death, I by our dying Lord Was in his place appointed to succeed, And that my fortune does a means afford, How that I compass may what he decreed, To leave that place I cannot well agree, As if I wanted courage to command: I'll take that which the fates do throw on me: For if without a throne, I cannot stand. And those that would perform difficult things, Must not regard what way, so they prevail; Of sleight, then force a greater furtherance brings, The Fox must help if that the Lion fail. So for Antipater a snare to-have laid, His daughter I in marriage did require: That so the time might but have been delayed, Till that I had accomplished my desire. For with the shadow of pretended love, And hope of that affinity to come: I from his bounds was minded to remove, A warlike troop wherewith himself t'orecome. But to deceive deceivers, t'is most hard, He quickly did mistrust th'intended wrong: And from my messengers his ears he barred, As did Ulysses from the Sirens song. Yet this opinion partly I disprove, Which would not (as you think) our troubles end: For if that we from hence our force remove, And to the Aemathian bounds directly tend. There must at first a doubtful war be proved, With those brave bans whose valour is well known: Of whom Craterus dearly is beloved, That bound to Antipater are all his own. And though indeed as kindly to those parts, My friendship is affected to by some: Yet others have preoccupied their hearts, And will discredit us before we come. Then while that we the Macedonians boast, And leave those realms unarmed that else are ours: Strait Ptolemy, when strengthened is his host, May enter Asia and supplant our powers. I by my judgement willingly would take, The course that seems to make our state most sure: It dangerous is to-have foes behind our back, That unawares our ruin may procure. My purpose is, though yet to none made known, That Egypt first shall burdened be with war: For if that Ptolemy were once orethrowne, Then that from Greece all hope of help would bar. And dare they then against that fortress rise, Where Alexanders colours once are reared: Or violate the walls whereas he lies, May not his shadow serve to make them feared? What, how comes this? and dare they then presume Encounter their commanders and in arms? Arms, arms, joust wrath these rebels must consume, Our countenance will dash them, found alarms. Let others seek t'obserue such points as those, I'am not so scrupulous, for I protest Over all, and by all means isle kill my foes, And then thereafter dispute of the rest. They wrong the Gods that think their church should be As a refuge for malefactors still: For with their justice this can not agree, Who guard th'euill-doers guilty are of ill. Was he not stained with many a moonstrous crime? And Like the Salamander in the fire, Did love to live in trouble all his time, And alterations always did require. Where do you think that we should then begin And exercise hostility at first? Nought rests untried that might enlarge my might I mind to match my self with such a one: That if she have my pour to prove her right, May be thought worthy of the Aemathian throne: I with Olympias have devised a thing, That may assure her state, and make mine strong: The which I hope shall prove a prosperous spring, From whence may flow great things ere it belong. By Cleopatra may a means be catched, That our designs t'a glorious end may bring: I mean she whom his father Philip matched, With Alexander of the Epirotes King. He having herd great Alexanders fame, In emulation of that monarchs praise: Went with his troops the Etrurians bent to tame, Which enterprise did but abridge his days. In marriage with that widowed Queen combined, If that her mother thus our course assist; While I effect that which I have designed, Who dare presume my purpose to resist? For while this friendship does my name renown, It may my thoughts from further fear seclude: Since having thus a title to the Crown, As one engraffde within the royal blood.